<p>I'm about to begin a post-bac premed program and am currently finishing up a science course (introductory astronomy) that may or may not go so well. My question is regarding whether or not this will affect (or count for) my science/bcpm GPA when I apply to D.O. programs. I plan to apply to M.D. and D.O. programs, but for M.D. applications my understanding is that this will not count towards the "science" or bcpm GPA but just my overall GPA. However, for osteopathic programs I'm not so sure. Do D.O. schools calculate a "science" or bcpm GPA in the same way as M.D. schools and AMCAS? Will this course count towards my science GPA when I apply to D.O. programs? If so, I may need to retake it =(</p>
<p>Also, what are the major differences if any besides the retake policy for D.O. and M.D. schools? My understanding is that D.O. schools replace the old grade while M.D. programs do not. Are there any other differences?</p>
<p>1.) If it’s in the physics department, it’s a BCPM course. Even if it’s not, it might still be BCPM.</p>
<p>2.) Medical schools consider your overall GPA as well.</p>
<p>On the transcript in reads as “ASTR” not as a physics course which is marked as PHYS or something of that nature, but the department at the institution is the same because it is “Physics and Astronomy.” Is this the consensus? My inclination is that the opposite was true. When you say it’s a BCPM course, I’ve heard that it definitely isn’t for AMCAS (neither is Geology, for example). Do you know anything about the differences between GPA calculation for D.O. and M.D. schools?</p>
<p>For one thing, AMCAS does not treat all cases consistently. So there’s no way to know for sure what it’ll be. AMCAS does have an ostensible set of rules and I’m not sure how it counts something labeled as Astronomy. If the PHYS label had applied, though, it’d definitely have been BCPM regardless of actual subject matter.</p>
<p>I don’t believe astronomy counts. At least, it doesn’t for AMCAS. If you go to the AOMCAS, or whatever it is, website there will be a list of all things counted as BCPM or science.</p>
<p>Astronomy DOES count for your AMCAS calculation in your BCPM, regardless of whether it is listed under the physics or astronomy department. As for the difference between AMCAS and osteopathic, the osteopathic application does not include math in your science GPA, and offers grade replacement. Here is the 2009 list of how to classify your courses released by AMCAS.</p>
<p>Biology (BIOL) - BCPM
1.Anatomy
2.Biology
3.Biophysics
4.Biotechnology
5.Botany
6.Cell Biology
7.Ecology
8.Entomology
9.Genetics
10.Histology
11.Immunology
12.Microbiology
13.Molecular Biology
14.Neuroscience
15.Physiology</p>
<p>Chemistry (CHEM) - BCPM
1.Biochemistry
2.Chemistry
3.Physical Chemistry
4.Thermodynamics</p>
<p>Math (MATH) - BCPM
1.Applied Mathematics
2.Mathematics
3.Statistics</p>
<p>Physics (PHYS) - BCPM
1.Astronomy
2.Physics</p>
<p>I stand corrected.</p>
<p>Also, osteopathic schools include ‘other sciences’ as part of the sciGPA calculation, that AMCAS does not. In addition to physics, biology and chemistry, these are all part of the sciGPA. </p>
<p>Other Science - sciGPA
Agricultural Science
Astronomy
Chiropractic
Electronics
Engineering
Epidemiology
Geology
Kinesiology
Medical Technology
Meteorology
Nutrition
Pharmacy
Physical Anthropology
Physical Geography
Physical Science
Physician Assistant
Radiology</p>
<p>Lol, chiropractic.</p>